George Guimarães - VEDDAS - Vegetarianism, Defense of Animals and Society

The days 10 a 14 August this year I had the opportunity to participate for the second time as a congressman and speaker of the Annual Conference of Animal Rights – Animal Rights National Conference, promoted by FARM (American animal rights organization - www.farmusa.org). The event is a great forum to share experiences, discuss strategies, report the progress of the movement's actions and expose the work of different groups working for animal liberation on all fronts, even those who act in ways condemned in the sight of the law.

Over 80 speakers, representing 60 organizations, shared their experiences around 100 lecture sessions. A marathon four days duration with up to five parallel sessions happening at the same time. In addition to lectures, a room video productions displayed continuously on the theme of the conference and the exhibition area showing the work of various organizations and vegan products (feeding, clothing, Cosmetics) for everyone.

What really drew attention at the event, beyond the amount of lectures and activities, was the quality of these. Imagine finding, in the same enclosure: Paul Watson do Sea Shepherd, whose activity is basically chasing and sinking (or at least malfunction) ships in illegal activity of hunting seals and whales; Jerry Vlasak da NAALPO, spokesperson for the ALF (Animal Liberation Front) and other factions of anonymous animal liberation movement; Steve Hindi do SHARK, conducting investigations in several cases of animal abuse and leads them to the public in order to pressure companies, organizations and individuals to cease their activities; Bruce Friedrich, vice-president of Peta, the world's largest organization for animal rights; Alex Pacheco, was co-founder of Peta há 25 years; e Alex Hershaft, responsible for FARM, entity that promotes the conference from the same era.

Ainda day circulou por Keith Shannon, lawyer who has defended activists of the ALF and directed the recently released documentary about the organization called Behind The Mask (Brazil will be released soon). The film brings the testimony of many activists who have been charged or convicted for their actions. Among those interviewed are Kevin Kjonaas who was convicted in the last day 12 September to meet 6 years in federal prison, together with other 5 activists who were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 1 a 4 years. The charges are to encourage the participation of others in demonstrations LEGAL and defend the ideology of direct action. The musician Moby, vegano high 20 years, which recently released a CD entitled Animal Rights was present to receive a tribute at the conference.

It's contagious experience of being in the midst of these legendary figures along with other 800 activists, from newcomers to the movement and full of cheer to those long standing treated to maintain the same spirit we always value to each of your achievements and learn from the many defeats.

My task there, addition to immerse yourself in this vast amount of information and contacts, was also to present two lectures: Foreign Laws, on Brazilian laws that favor the animals and Nutritional Concerns of a Vegan Diet, that addressed some topics of interest vegan nutrition. Brazil was also represented by two other Brazilian activists who currently reside in the U.S., one of which, Andrea Carvalho in Rio, works with more than FARM 1 year.

Remarkable fact of this issue was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the movement for animal rights in the U.S.. Whenever we seek to compare the movement it away, Brazilian activists many of us tend to admire his maturity and achievements as something unattainable. Have attended retrospectives and testimonials of the pioneers of the American brought me great clarity on our time while moving, shedding light on the way we still have to tread. Many activists have clarity of destination where we want to, but you need to think about the way.

Found that can what tread we pinch, no matter if we are at the beginning or middle of the road, brings great clarity. Knowing that large organizations and personalities were, there 25 years, a stretch of road next to that in which we stand now, brings peace of mind that we can inspire experiences already tested to enable accelerated growth of our movement located. We have many jobs in Brazil and quite unique achievements, worthy of international admiration and pride, and the possibility of adding to this the example of earlier experiments is great satisfaction. I see people in Brazil as willing as those that I see out here. I Celebrate, albeit less frequently, achievements as valuable as those which show the movement abroad.

Ingrid Newkirk, president of Peta often note that "movements for social justice, those claiming rights, always grow, they never desaparecem”. While its lead time, the end, with the necessary sacrifice and shocks, they always win. Revolutionize the way the issue is treated animals in Brazil is a task that will require us a tremendous dedication. It would be naive to imagine that a major finding in only sporadically to discuss, producing informative and organizing some events can revolutionize an issue that affects so directly habits entrenched in our culture and that is at the heart of our economic system. It is time the Brazilian activists understand the vegetarian movement and animal liberation as a movement for social justice, nothing less than a revolutionary movement, because that is what he is. And that is how he is treated abroad, proof is the enclosure that is configured around the activists most exponents, many of them being convicted of federal crimes without ever having been involved directly in violent actions. How to move, the annoyance already apparent in this type of pressure from a system that struggles to maintain its status quo. If the movement and its achievements are to grow, we can not be naive enough to expect such a clash can be avoided.

While I see that in Brazil the movement in defense of animal rights is still in configuration, I am absolutely sure that, with proper training and organization of our activists, our movement for animal liberation is also winner.